Smoky Mountain Central

A model railroad . . . a radio station . . . and a county fair?  An unlikely combination perhaps, but it's one that's drawn thousands of people to the Clay County Fair since 1947.

The KICD Little Theatre building on the southeast side of the Clay County Fairgrounds was originally designed for chickens and roosters.  It was decided to use the building for radio and television stations.  One week before the fair of 1947 was to open, the fair management was in a quandary about the southeast quarter of the building.  Then owner Ben Sanders suggested that a model railroad would be a nice addition.  Two carpenters, hundreds of board feet lumber and six days later, the Smoky Mountain started operation . . . a 45-foot loop of two tracks.  It was an instant hit and surpassed the exhibit of the wingless chickens on display from Iowa State University.

The following year, it doubled in size, taking the entire east side of the building.  Six tons of plaster, mixed in buckets and applied by volunteers, created the mountains.  The trestle came into being a bit later.  And then came the next challenge.  The board of directors tried to "inspect" the railroad during the fair, and couldn't get in because of the crowd.  Board President Leon Witter was not to be outdone.  He laid down the dare . . . if he knocked out the east wall and ran it out another fourteen feet, would Sanders agree to putting "another side" to the railroad?  He did, and the volunteers went back to work.

From year to year, the Smoky Mountain grew.  Then, about 1963 or so, the railroad was taken over by a railroad club.  When that arrangement fell through, Sanders was beckoned out of retirement and the Smoky Mountain runs on all 2,500 feet of track, 11,000 figurines and 1,100 buildings.

"When it first started, there was a romance about railroading, even though it was starting to decline.  Steam was still around, and it brought back memories when the older 'kids' watched the little trains running around the exhibit.  Then came the diesel, and steam became a thing of the past."

Much of the exhibit now takes on the chore of a history teacher, showing some of the things that made our country great.  For youngsters, it's a learning lesson; for those a bit older, a trip into the past.  For all, it's a very pleasant journey.

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